South West | Artists taking the lead

Shortlisted:

Kneehigh Theatre Company

Kneehigh Theatre Company proposes to bring an alternative Olympics to different locations in the South West each week throughout the spring of 2012. The team will erect a beautiful Asylum structure at each site before leading games such as pantomime cow obstacle courses, Cornish wrestling, egg and spoon races, and 'flip a kipper' competitions. Invitations will be dropped from small planes inviting the local community to work on stories, costumes, food, music, dance and art in preparation for the Games. On the day of the games, all ages and abilities will compete for medals commissioned by artists and the Asylum will be decorated with artwork from the local community and commissions from international artists. As night falls, the Kneehigh band will strike up, an inspiring and world-class evening of Kneehigh song and story, poetry and fun will celebrate the land we live in, the people we live next door to and the power of party.

WILDWORKS

WILDWORKS propose to create a piece of work inspired by the myths of Babel and Labyrinth to celebrate the convergence of many different cultures in London in 2012. This would take the form of a performance involving the diverse communities of Cornwall and the South West. Through building labyrinths with local people and animating the paths with their stories, they would create a ‘theatre of experience’ where the audience will use all their senses to navigate their way in and out of the labyrinth. This form will adapt to unexpected spaces such as a multi-storey car park and will invent a form of storytelling that will transcend spoken language.

State of Emergency and Gregory Maqoma

Desert Crossings welcomes the world to the South West and takes us on a journey of discovery.

This cross-cultural journey is a collaboration between South West based producers State of Emergency and South African choreographer
Gregory Maqoma.

Desert Crossings traces our shared memories and the Earth’s history through the sands of time, beginning with the ancient desert landscapes preserved along the South West's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and their remarkable resemblance to the Skeleton Coast of southern Africa.

Desert Crossings will create an inspirational, site specific dance and film spectacle for the Jurassic Coast, along with a national tour and a public programme involving communities across the South West and in South Africa. The stories they uncover will engage communities in a global conversation about universal hopes and dreams of a better world.

‘Nowhereisland’ is a big idea that is elegant, simple yet truly Olympian in scale and ambition. Questioning what nationhood means in a globalised society, it highlights the South West’s international relationships and reflects on what these now mean for our environment. Provocative and spectacular, it will speak to all nationalities, ages and interests; people who have never visited an art gallery and "culture vultures" alike. It shows what art can add to the Olympics; new perspectives, self knowledge and a celebration of human ingenuity.

Peter Hampel

Creative Director of the Eden project where he leads the development of their pioneering arts led public engagement programmes, directs the Eden Sessions and has commissioned hundreds of artists and organised many residencies. He works with the Sensory Trust to insure maximum inclusivity.

Annie Menter

Executive, Womad Foundation, is responsible for broad educational remit within WOMAD festival context (including WOMAD summer school for young musicians) and externally through inter-cultural outreach programmes with artists in schools, universities and the voluntary sector. She was previously Director of WOMAD Ltd. and has a wide range of audience development, engagement and diversity experience.

Thrisha Haldar

Gloucestershire-based freelance producer with experience in India, Bangladesh and UK. Her focus is on performing arts in unconventional settings and producing work by Asian and African diasporas. Thrisha develops new audiences and artists thought her work with Catalyst SW, Asian Arts Agency, Trans-Formations & Arts Matrix.

Amanda Wallwork

Dorset-based visual artist with a particular interest in art and archaeology. She is also Director and Curator of Sherborne House Arts and is responsible for developing and managing many artist-led projects.

Alex Murdin

Devon-based artist, curator, and producer. He is currently artist in residence for Lyme Regis, lead artist for Ilfracombe seafront regeneration and Creative Places Development Manager for Dorset. Previous experience includes extensive public realm work and roles with Aune Head Arts, Artsmatrix, the Contemporary Craft Fair, and Devon Guild of Craftsmen

James Randell

From Portland, Dorset, James is a young arts advisor, who is currently studying AS Music, AS Photography, AS Business Studies and A2 Music Technology at the Thomas Hardy School, and is a member of several bands.

Hilary Garnham

Hilary's experience includes time as the administrative director of Kneehigh, Education Director at Bristol Old Vic, manager of the Independent Theatre Council and actor/teacher at the Liverpool Everyman. Currently she is Director of Arts and Development at Arts Council South West.

Richard Crowe

London 2012 Creative Programmer for the South West with a background in theatre, arts and landscape and arts development.